April 13/25
Grand Forks Border Bruins (5) vs Revelstoke Grizzlies (2)
Border Bruins win series 4-0
The Grand Forks Border Bruins are Teck Cup champions. It’s the first time in franchise history. Logan McCabe led the Border Bruins with two goals, including the championship clinching goal in the first period, while Eric Kahl was excellent in goal stopping 40 of 42 shots. The Border Bruins led 3-2 after the first period. After surrendering both Grizzlies goals on the power-play to Nathan White (2) and Jake Neufeld (6), Kahl stopped all 26 shots he faced in the final two periods combined.
“As the game went on, a little nervousness to start, the magnitude of the game in front of us was huge,” said Border Bruins head coach-general manager Dave Hnatiuk. “We settled down and we found our groove and played our game. Just the fact that the guys stuck with it.”
Levi Astill and Tyler Burke each collected three assists, with the latter earning the KIJHL Teck Cup Most Valuable Player award. Devin Degenstein stopped 40 of 45 shots for the Grizzlies. While the Grizzlies went 2-for-3 on their power-play, the Border Bruins went 1-for-6.
Burke had 10 points in the Teck Cup Final and finished with 13 goals, 11 assists for 24 points. He had 11 power-play goals and four game-winners.
“I’m beyond grateful. We won the championship, that is the biggest thing for me,” said Burke. “It feels great, it feels surreal. I’m still soaking it all in. It’s cool and all, but in the end, the championship is what it’s all about.”
Border Bruins captain Carter Price said it feels unreal to be a champion.
“It’s a cliche, guys say it every year, but we have the greatest group of guys you could ask for,” said Price. “Tough, mean, skilled. Great guys all-around.”
April 12/25
Grand Forks Border Bruins (5) vs Revelstoke Grizzlies (1)
Border Bruins lead series 3-0
Tyler Burke led the Border Bruins with a pair of goals, including the winner, and has his team a win away from capturing the Teck Cup championship. Border Bruins goalie Eric Kahl stopped 24 of 25 shots, allowing a goal to Jett Patola (7), (Mark LaFleur, Jake Phillips-Watts) late in the second period on the power-play. The Border Bruins sealed their win with three third-period goals from Alex Edwards (7) short-handed, Theo Naidu (4) and Burke, his second on the power-play. Devin Degenstein was strong for the Grizzlies, making 43 saves.
April 9/25
Revelstoke Grizzlies (2) vs Grand Forks Border Bruins (5)
Border Bruins lead series 2-0
Levi Astill scored a slick goal beating Ryder Ponto high glove for the winner against the Grizzlies. The Border Bruins had a 2-0 lead on goals by Tyler Burke, to open the scoring, and Alex Edwards. Then the Grizzlies evened things up on goals by Jake Phillips-Watts (4) (Jett Patola, Diego Smith) in the first period, then Kaidon Mah (1) (Jacob Smith) in the second period. Astill’s winner (Tyler Burke, Logan McCabe) came at 15:37 of the third. Brandon Gray (8) (McCabe, Russell Kosec) secured the victory with a short-handed goal on an odd-man rush. Ryder Ponto had 27 saves, while Eric Kahl stopped 28 for the win. The Border Bruins were 0-for-3 on the power-play, while the Grizzlies went 1-for-6. Attendance at Jack Goddard Memorial Arena was 708. The Grizzlies are 7-2-0 at the Revelstoke Forum in the playoffs.
Revelstoke Grizzlies (3) vs Grand Forks Border Bruins (7)
Border Bruins lead series 1-0
The Border Bruins took the opening game in The Battle of the Bears – as the Grand Forks broadcast crew has dubbed the Teck Cup championship with Revelstoke. Theo Naidu (3) scored the eventual winner on a slick backhand tally as he went to the net, assisted by Ben Edwards. His goal gave the Border Bruins a 4-0 lead 1:43 into the second period. Goalie Eric Kahl saved 21 of 24 shots for the win, while the Border Bruins received two-goal performances by Jace Koole (5) and Tyler Burke (10), who also had an assist. Leading 4-0, the Grizzlies cut into it with three straight goals by Daniel Wittenberg (5) on the power-play, Mark LaFleur (6) and Keiran Keilly (8). Grizzlies starter Devin Degenstein was pulled after allowing three goals on 12 shots in 20:19 of action. Ryder Ponto allowed four goals on 19 shots in 39:44 of playing time and was handed the loss.
The Border Bruins power-play went 4-for-7, as their final three goals came on the man-advantage, while their penalty-kill was strong, going 6-for-7.
